GUILTY PA - Skyler Kauffman, 9, Souderton, 9 May 2011

[Helplessly Hoping]

http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2011/05/17/news/doc4dd1887d0b35b916211522.txt

SOUDERTON — Hoping to bring something good to a community torn by the tragic murder of Skyler Kauffman, a group of area residents would like to build a playground, possibly across from the old high school building.

Stephanie Haas of Harleysville, the parent of two daughters ages 8 and 7, said the group met for about six hours on Saturday, talking about that they could do.

“We were inspired by Skyler,” Haas said. “We want to do something for the community. A playground will bring people together. It’s a broken community right now.”

 

[MsFacetious]

May 17, 2011

Many of the mourners at 9-year-old Skyler Kauffman's funeral yesterday couldn't see over the top of her small, pink coffin as they walked past it - not even when they stood on their tiptoes.

They were Skyler's friends, tiny mourners who, instead of clinging to tissues, clung tight to baby dolls. Instead of attending school, they attended their first funeral.

Skyler's aunt Meghan also spoke of the girl's love for fashion and her eternal "adorableness."

Johnathan Graff, principal of E.M. Crouthamel Elementary School, in Souderton, where Skyler was attending third grade, read letters from Skyler's classmates who remembered her good handwriting, pretty hair and eyes.

"I think you're as beautiful as a meadow of flowers," one student wrote, while another said, "Sorry you didn't get to finish your project on Spain."

Grace Crowley, Skyler's teacher, said Skyler was a gifted writer. She read a poem Skyler had written called "When You Look Up."

"When you look up, I am there.

When you look up, you see blue.

When you look up, you see your spirit ...

When you look up you will see God.

When you look up, you will see yourself."

http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-17/news/29552327_1_souderton-apartment-pink-coffin-young-friends



May 17, 2011 -

Skyler loved wearing bright colors, swinging on the playground swings, and writing in her journal during classroom "free writing time," the officials said.

Crouthamel principal Jonathan R. Graf read letters written to Skyler by her classmates in the week after her death.

"You were really sweet. You had good handwriting. Your animal poster was perfect," wrote one, referring to a poster Skyler made about cheetahs.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-17/news/29552476_1_mourners-funeral-director-souderton-girl



May 16, 2011

The 11 a.m. service at Calvary Church brought school children who were excused from classes to attend.

One little girl, a classmate of Skyler's attended with her father. He said she had drawn a picture this week for Skyler that said: "Welcome to heaven."

The little girl and her father said there were 18 children in Skyler's class, making it a welcoming place.

Skyler's casket, a regulation-sized pink coffin, was chosen to hold the little girl's favorite possessions, a funeral director said.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-16/news/29548836_1_church-building-mourners-calvary-church

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loc...51f-b4db-b883f5845c1c.html?mode=image&photo=4

 

[MsFacetious]

May 23, 2011

District Attorney To Seek Death Penalty

"If ever there was a case that is appropriate for the Commonwealth to seek the death penalty, this is it," said Ferman, who is prosecuting the case with Chief of Trials Thomas W. McGoldrick. "It is a brutal sexual assault and murder of a 9-year-old child. I can't think of another case where the death penalty is more warranted."

Troutman's formal arraignment is not slated until July 13


During Monday's proceedings, a bald spot on the top of Troutman's head was visible on the video screen.

Asked about it afterwards, Penglase said, "My client is literally pulling his hair from his head. You can't have a better demonstration of mental illness than that." :waitasec:


Troutman suffers from Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism that "already makes normal social interaction and people skills difficult for him," said Penglase.

"And, when you are surrounded by people that only know what you've done and hate you, this is what happens," said Penglase, who is in the process of documenting Troutman's mental health history before calling in experts to evaluate his client.


Penglase said county prison officials were doing everything they can do to protect his client.

"This is something he will just have to endure," said Penglase.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loc...cle_185be208-8576-11e0-b355-001a4bcf6878.html


ENDURE???

His client will have to ENDURE time in solitary confinement, safe from other inmates?

Listening to them yell at him and call him mean names??


What about what he made Skyler endure?

Skyler, this little girl.

He allegedly admitted to police he'd taken Kauffman into a basement of their apartment complex, choked her and beat her head against the cement floor.

Police said he also raped the child.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loc...cle_56876054-e92e-5671-9d93-808f38b1c200.html


If solitary confinement is so difficult to endure, perhaps he should give general population a try.



Asperger's Not An Excuse In Killing

http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/re...cle_82f7669d-f3df-5438-80f1-fa36859012d9.html



The Dangers of An "Asperger's Defense"

http://autism.about.com/b/2011/05/23/the-dangers-of-an-aspergers-defense.htm

 

[Filly]

James Lee Troutman is being arraigned this morning.






http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/loc...cle_6b4def6e-f8bb-5f59-9935-5213089c99f7.html


RIP Skyler

 

[Filly]

http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2011/05/17/news/doc4dd1887d0b35b916211522.txt

SOUDERTON — Hoping to bring something good to a community torn by the tragic murder of Skyler Kauffman, a group of area residents would like to build a playground, possibly across from the old high school building.

Stephanie Haas of Harleysville, the parent of two daughters ages 8 and 7, said the group met for about six hours on Saturday, talking about that they could do.

“We were inspired by Skyler,” Haas said. “We want to do something for the community. A playground will bring people together. It’s a broken community right now.”

Flap may derail playground in Skyler's memory.



http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-...bhard-skyler-kauffman-playground-construction





:banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[CanManEh]

I just read this whole thread and I would just like to say my prayers go out for this little girl and also for anyone that has a child I myself have a beautiful little 8 year old girl but you gotta assume the woarst is out there because guys like this are i know for me and my little girl I'll play the mean dad and not let her out of my sight no matter how mad she gets because its allways better to be safe then sorry and you may not get a 2nd chance .Don't let it get to the point where your relying on police or luck or hope that there are no sicko's around because it only comes out after that there are 45 registered pedofiles in the block next to all of us and then its too late. Anyway sorry not trying to give anyone parenting advice but i wouldn't wish this on anyone. RIP Skyler

 

[Gracelin]

Pleads NOT guilty!!


http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2011/07/20/news/doc4e26e2e649846227514814.txt

 

[JenniferTx]

This man deserves to be put to death. Why is it when a monster like him kills a child they claim they are mentally ill? COWARD! Man up for what you did to that precious little girl. Hope he rots in hell for eternity!

 

[MsFacetious]

I expected the killer to plead not guilty... I expected him to act ridiculous.

I expected the victim's family to grieve... be angry... lash out... hide from the public... I am pretty understanding about victim's reactions.

But fighting... over a playground being made in your murder's daughter's memory... and fighting with family members... barely 2 months after this 9 year old girl was raped and brutally murdered? How can you even think about fighting with your mother in law at this point?

I have to agree with Skyler's grandmother.

I am appalled at this.

Remember her?? Skyler?? Can't we just make the playground in her memory??

http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-...bhard-skyler-kauffman-playground-construction

Everything seemed to be moving forward.

Then, on Monday, Gebhard, 30, posted on her Facebook page that Haas no longer spoke for the memorial effort and encouraged readers to make donations directly to her.

Within minutes of the original post, Skyler's paternal grandmother - Carol Kauffman - responded, criticizing Gebhard for "disrupting the wonderful job these people were doing."

Kauffman questioned whether what she saw as Gebhard's lax supervision of Skyler might have led to her death and whether Gebhard had spent money raised in her daughter's name appropriately.

Gebhard shot back that Skyler never liked her grandmother.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

A Souderton man accused of raping and killing a 9-year-old girl who was his neighbor claims he’s entitled to additional pretrial information from prosecutors so he can “adequately prepare for a defense at trial.”

James Lee Troutman, 24, through his lawyer, Wm. Craig Penglase, filed papers in Montgomery County Court on Monday asking a judge to order prosecutors to turn over a “bill of particulars,” essentially a written statement setting forth the details of each criminal charge filed against Troutman in connection with the May 9 death of Skyler Rae Kauffman.

Snipped from: http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/09/26/news/doc4e80a8ed1ecc5432656548.txt

 

[fhc]

http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2011/10/07/news/srv0000014387467.txt

Prosecutors ask to show crime scene photos at alleged child killer's trial
Published: Friday, October 07, 2011; Last Updated: Fri. Oct 7, 2011, 11:47am

 

[Cappuccino]

So have they tested the blood found on the clothes, and matched it to the victim? What about the rape kit - did they find any DNA from the accused man?

Getting a hinky feeling about this case, and I do hope I'm wrong. If they've got some Earl Washington type idjut who confessed to a crime he didn't commit in custody, that would mean the real culprit is still out there. And this type of culprit is likely to reoffend.

 

[MsFacetious]

October 9 -

Prior to the May 9 slaying of Skyler Kauffman, James Troutman allegedly pointed out the young girl to his now-former fiancé, Heather Clemens, and her sister, telling the pair that Skyler was one of the girls who had gotten him into trouble with police and that he wanted to “snap her neck,” prosecutors said in legal papers filed Thursday in county court.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/...cle_f4746a80-36c2-542a-a234-068667a9b1b6.html

 

[pinkfly]

This is just so sad.

 

[MsFacetious]

So have they tested the blood found on the clothes, and matched it to the victim? What about the rape kit - did they find any DNA from the accused man?

Getting a hinky feeling about this case, and I do hope I'm wrong. If they've got some Earl Washington type idjut who confessed to a crime he didn't commit in custody, that would mean the real culprit is still out there. And this type of culprit is likely to reoffend.

Well if you are right... then Jorelys could easily have been another victim.
They even have the same beautiful darker features...

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156402&page=14

I do wonder if there is DNA connecting Troutman to Skyler?
I haven't heard yet that there is... aside from the blood I think on his clothing.
I don't know if we ever heard about a DNA match on that?

Just a little creepy... :waitasec:

 

[krimekat]

I am from Souderton. I did not know Skylar, but I do know her mother (went K-12 with her). There is no way Heather had the means to pack up and move after her daughter was lured by this monster 2 weeks ago. It's the POLICE'S fault for not charging him with SOMETHING. Souderton police aren't exactly known for their skill... they are used to doing things like handing out fines for skateboarding at the high school.

Wouldn't it be the prosecution charging him with something? LE investigates the crime, could have arrested him if they had cause, but charging someone for criminal intent would be the State Atty's responsibility.

Did LE investigate the incident when he held the 2 girls in his apt?

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

Well if you are right... then Jorelys could easily have been another victim.
They even have the same beautiful darker features...

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156402&page=14

I do wonder if there is DNA connecting Troutman to Skyler?
I haven't heard yet that there is... aside from the blood I think on his clothing.
I don't know if we ever heard about a DNA match on that?

Just a little creepy... :waitasec:

He is in Montgomery County custody on no bond....type his name at link if link doesn't go directly there.

http://webapp.montcopa.org:8080/inmatelookup

 

[MsFacetious]

He is in Montgomery County custody on no bond....type his name at link if link doesn't go directly there.

http://webapp.montcopa.org:8080/inmatelookup

I know, I was responding to Cappuccino's mention of the possibility that Troutman confessed to crime he didn't commit.

I'd feel a lot better if we had his DNA on Skyler and a massive amount of her DNA on him... and hey a video would be nice...

The similarities are just creepy and it makes me give Cappuccino's idea some thought. Innocent people do confess...

Yes, I am familiar with the case and the likely hood of his guilt. I just would like to know if anything has been DNA tested and is a match yet?

 

[Helplessly Hoping]

I know, I was responding to Cappuccino's mention of the possibility that Troutman confessed to crime he didn't commit.

I'd feel a lot better if we had his DNA on Skyler and a massive amount of her DNA on him... and hey a video would be nice...

The similarities are just creepy and it makes me give Cappuccino's idea some thought. Innocent people do confess...

Yes, I am familiar with the case and the likely hood of his guilt. I just would like to know if anything has been DNA tested and is a match yet?

If I were a betting woman, I'd say the Pros have a solid case...but they don't release all the info here in PA that they do in FL etc so hard to be certain but Vetri Ferman is regarded as solid locally. There was blood on his shoes & the fiancee gave out some pretty damning statements. Never a slam dunk but I am confident the Pros will pull out all the stops to make sure he never sees the light of day. EVER. I think the good guys will win one for a change here and Skylar gets justice....

However, just found this regarding a search of Troutman's jail cell...hoping it is resolved...

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/...8-cded-5057-8367-3a2c40063c35.html?mode=print

 

[fhc]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/cri...cle_b912f979-1a49-53aa-a484-02597fc6043c.html

"I'm a monster, I'm sorry, I'm a monster," (ITA)

Kuklentz read those statements in court Monday morning during a pretrial hearing on a defense motion to suppress Troutman's statements at the time of his trial.

Oral arguments on the motions will be held Tuesday before Judge William R. Carpenter, who is expected to set a trial date for Troutman at that time.